04.06.2026 16:01
The indictment prepared against former Habertürk TV Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Akif Ersoy and 7 suspects on charges of "establishing and managing a criminal organization," "aggravated sexual assault," and drug-related crimes has been returned to the prosecutor's office by the Istanbul 19th Heavy Penal Court.
Within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the indictment prepared against 8 suspects, including Mehmet Akif Ersoy, Mustafa Manaz, Ufuk Tetik, and Taner Çağlı, who were arrested after being detained in December 2025, was completed on May 20 and sent to the Istanbul 19th Heavy Penal Court.
REASON FOR RETURN UNKNOWN
After reviewing the indictment, the court returned the file to the Prosecutor's Office. Lawyers stated that the reason for the return could not yet be learned due to the confidentiality order in the file.
UP TO 286 YEARS IN PRISON SOUGHT
In the indictment, Mehmet Akif Ersoy was sought to be punished with a total prison sentence of up to 286 years for the crimes of "establishing and managing a criminal organization," 11 counts of "aggravated sexual assault," "trafficking or supplying narcotic or stimulant substances," and "facilitating the use of narcotic substances."
DETAILS OF THE INDICTMENT
In the indictment, Burcu Akyüz, Dilek Olgun, Melis Asena Özkan, Reyhan Köse, Buse Öztay, Ebru Gülan, Ece Aslan, Elif Kılınç, Gizem Ayabaktı, Meltem Acet, and Şevkiye Dilara Yıldız were listed as "victims," while Mehmet Akif Ersoy, Ahmet Göçmez, Mustafa Manaz, Nurullah Mahmut Dündar, Taner Çağlı, Tolga Aykut, and Ufuk Tetik were listed as "suspects."
The indictment stated that a tip-off received at the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command on November 2, 2025, contained information that "HaberTürk Television Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Akif Ersoy, Ela Rümeysa Cebeci, and former channel employee Merve S. use narcotic and stimulant substances, that Ersoy organizes entertainment-style events and supplies narcotic and stimulant substances in this environment, and that he makes women around him use narcotic and stimulant substances, weakening their will, and engages in sexual intercourse with these women together with multiple people."
Following this tip-off, the indictment noted that investigation procedures into the criminal organization were initiated. It was recorded in the indictment that, based on tips received at the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command, the acts were committed within the scope of an organization, and this organization consisted of suspect Mehmet Akif Ersoy as the leader and certain members mentioned in the account.
The indictment explained that the criminal organization frequently used the effect of cocaine, particularly among narcotic substances, on both female victims and organization members. It was reported that organization leader Ersoy frequently supplied narcotic substances and organized parties with organization members he knew from his friend and business circles, and during these parties, he used organization members and victims to satisfy his sexual desires.
ORGANIZATION CHART CREATED
Emphasizing the importance of tip-off contents, statements taken, and determinations made during the investigation phase in revealing the formation and structure of the criminal organization, the indictment stated: "In the organization chart of the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command, it has been determined that Mehmet Akif Ersoy is the organization leader, and suspects Ahmet Göçmez, Mustafa Manaz, Nurullah Mahmut Dündar, Taner Çağlı, Tolga Aykut, and Ufuk Tetik are organization members."
The indictment reported that Ersoy established a criminal organization with suspects he knew from his friend and business circles, and in this context, they came together to satisfy the organization leader's sexual desires by supplying cocaine to the victims.
It was stated in the indictment that due to Ersoy's sector and position, he was thought to be in contact with influential people, and therefore the other suspects obeyed him because of his status. For this reason, Ersoy controlled and organized the other suspects, and the organization members introduced women with whom they had emotional relationships to Ersoy, facilitated their engagement in relationships through various methods, and turned these individuals into victims of the crime.
The indictment noted that some of the organization member suspects were understood to have gained benefits by participating in television programs due to the organization leader's position and sector.
It was stated that the suspects systematically carried out their actions, and based on statements taken, it was understood that they planned to make the victims use narcotic substances before engaging in multiple sexual intercourse.
REQUESTED PENALTIES
In the indictment, it was requested that Mehmet Akif Ersoy be sentenced to 11 to 27.5 years in prison for the crimes of "establishing an organization to commit crimes" and "facilitating the use of narcotic or stimulant substances," and no less than 266 years in prison for the crimes of "aggravated sexual assault committed in a chain manner 11 times" and "trafficking or supplying narcotic or stimulant substances in a chain manner."
For suspect Ahmet Göçmez, it was requested that he be sentenced to no less than 100 years in prison for the crimes of "manufacturing and trafficking narcotic or stimulant substances" and 5 counts of "aggravated sexual assault," and 7 to 15 years in prison for the crimes of "being a member of an organization established to commit crimes" and "facilitating the use of narcotic or stimulant substances."
In the indictment, it was foreseen that Nurullah Mahmut Dündar, Mustafa Manaz, Taner Çağlı, and Tolga Aykut would be sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment from 7 to 15 years and no less than 51 years for the crimes of "manufacturing and trafficking narcotic or stimulant substances," "aggravated sexual assault," "being a member of an organization established to commit crimes," and "facilitating the use of narcotic or stimulant substances." Ufuk Tetik was projected to be sentenced to 2 to 5 years in prison for the crime of "being a member of an organization established to commit crimes."
In the prepared indictment, it was also stated that within the scope of the investigation, a separation decision was made regarding suspects Veyis Ateş, Ali Yaşar Koz, Umut Evirgen, Emrullah Erdinç, Steven Sadettin Saran, Hasan Dereci, Şakir Tekin, Yusuf Timur Savcı, Burcu Akyüz, and Ela Rümeysa Cebeci for the crimes of "narcotic drug trafficking" and "facilitating the use of narcotic drugs by providing premises," and a separate investigation is being conducted against them.